1937-01-04 — Page 18

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1937.

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ECAUSE his loneli- responsible for the declining ness is unbearable, birthrate. 25-year-old Sidney

The women of this class have, as a rule, enough money to keep comfort,

(0, coupled with the fact them in moderate So, that the woman in the What little work is necessary at

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not enough work home can be done by one ser Sent to occupy her time is the vant. Significantly this class tenced to death in July for other fact leading to mental also leads. the field in the declin. the murder of her child, she dissatisfaction—the

marriage. hours was reprieved 23

Thus, in a vast number of later.

cases, women are faced with a "All my life I had been lonely period of leisure for which till we married," ho says. nothing in our social system has

Hongkong Hotel "From the age of four to thir- prepared them.

Garage

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BIRTH.

Stubbs Rd.

teen I was in an orphanage. Since then I have had only one real pal-Helen."

This is a rare and extreme Cn.Sc. For every man victim of the disease of loneliness there are 50 women.

Not only aged spinsters and girls "living on their own" suffer from it. They are by no means BELL--At the

Memorial the largest class of sufferers. War Nursing Home, on January 4th, -1937, to Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Bell, The largest class are the wives, and this illness is beyond the range of doctors, but not, perhaps, of the sociologists, the men who are concerned with

⚫ son.

The

Hongkong Telegraph. changes.

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1937.

EASTERN EUROPE

DANGERS

Loneliness provides a fine theme for sentimental writers for women; it is is time to approach it scientifically.

They do not know how to use it, nor can they be blamed for not knowing. How often does the retired man know what to do with himself?

ing birthrate statistics,

They, have few cares and no duties. They are easy targets for the germ of loneliness, be- cause they are alone more hours than any class of society. Their husbands work longer hours than any other type of worker.

The suburban "at homes" and "bridge afternoons" did some- thing to alleviate their loneliness. They were pathetic attempts at The majority of wives be- companionship, but the narrow- tween 20 and 30 come from ness of their circle frequently homes where they were one of falled them. How often do the perhaps three or four or more newspapers report inexplicable children. They saw their suicides in this class? mothers occupied in rearing a

WHAT makes this in- family with little time for mor-

creasingly perilous is bid introspection, which is the that this is the very class result of loneliness. As they which is moving in large grew older, they helped in the numbers into the big blocks business of running the family, of flats, not only in London, but or went out to work eight or in provincial cities. nine hours a day.

..

In this type of flat there is no social life at all. Their oceu- pants feel honour-bound not to know their neighbours.

AFTER marriage they find they have twelve hours a day to do necessary work needing, at most, three or Where privacy might be dif- To begin with, it is in four hours in a small flat. ficult, their guarding of it makes

possible to say under Soon the novelty of marriage companionship and new friend our divorce laws how many wears off, and the unaccustomed ships impossible. The civil war in Spain, with divorces are the result of leisure becomes a drag. TheyIt is well known that solitude, all its possible repercussions, has boredom, which the American really don't know what to do that is loneliness, breaks the

for concentrated attention

divorce "Incom- with themselves. Western Europe that the situa-patibility of temperament, so tion in Eastern Europe has adequately covers." Jatterly escaped widespread notice. In particular, the full implications of the understand ings concluded with Russia by

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Those with whom money does not count find escape in lunching out, going to the cinema, joining one of the big libraries and read ing themselves into a state of stupefaction. To the second and third-rate fictioneers they are a blessing..

of

spirit of the most rebelllous pri- soner. Can the psychologists estimate the effects of this peculiarly English disease on not only highly strung but also on normal healthy, women?

countries.

A VITAL MOVEMENT

Oxford Groupers'

up at one of the meetings and con- fessing their failures in the past and their new resolve to maintain the Group standards.

In Walca and Scotland there is no sense of intrusion when one speaks to a stranger. Welsh people regard it as one of the oddities of London that a man does not know his neighbour. They talk of it as English people might talk of the strange custom of some tribe lost in the wilds of Africa

The Welsh avoid. loneliness, though not consciously, by going to chapol not only on Sundays, but several times a week, joining dramatic societies, social guilds, and singing parties.

Continental women in the afternoon meet their friends in cafes, and talk for hours over a peach soaked in a glass of champagne."

THE plain fact, is that `-

the English quality of reserve has ceased to be merely a quality that foreigners ob- served. It has become, under changing social conditions, a menace,

that undermines Englishwomen's lives.

Maybe the problem will be solved not by the professors, but by the builders of the homes of the future.

builders "Alraзdy some

of modern flats incorporate in them swimming pools, squash and tennis courts. They do so not for any sociological reason, but to make them more attractive.

When, instead of dozens of such blocks, there are thousands, the disease of loneliness may disappear by people, especially women, getting to know each other by playing together.

Until that happens you will still read, as I did not long ago, of a husband who said at the in-

quest on his wife, "I was away all day, and the loneliness got on hor nerves."

The English are funny that way; they would rather die than risk a snub. So they won't talk.

Emrys Jones

alists, industrialists, officers of the three fighting Services, and uner- ployed men from the special areas. There was no attempt to grade or sectionalise different interests, and in practice there were no difficulties. this strange medley of people living together in perfect harmony.

The sociologists believe, and every man who lives in a small flat knows, that the work of running a small flat by no means

IT is a disease peculiar to England. You do not absorbs the energies of the one hand and average healthy woman.

find it in Scotland or in Wales or Czecho-Slovakin on the other No social expert has yet in- BUT most of the victims in France or in Germany.

loneliness and The reticence and reserve have not been generally recog-vestigated what this means in nised. The latter pact, which is terms of mental stress. We they provide divorce lawyers which makes an English railway said to be directed against Ger know, of course, that the change with a great proportion of their carriage like a school for the many and Hungary alike, has from the seven-roomed house to business come from the middle dumb does not exist in other

the three-roomed flat is, in part, classes. been described by a British com mentator as the plague-carrier of European politics. Of itself, the Franco-Russian understand- ing could not have worked, since the frontlers of Ger- many and Russia would have remained widely divided by in-

PHIS morning I received a letter tervening countries. All this

from one of the leading figures has been changed by the agree of the Oxford Group movement. It ment reached between the Soviet was brimful of vitality and con-

In recent years the groups have and Czecho-Slovakia, which, it is Adence, describing interviews the

Many people are introduced to the spread all over the world, and there strong sections in Canada. movement at what are called "house an pointed out, will enable Russian Groupers had arranged with political

day's programme, and smoothing out leaders in America and Holland.

parties. These parties consist of a Switzerland, the United States, and air-power to be carried into

problems brought to him by This vitality is, in fact, one of the

series of meetings held in me, Germany. The recent drive through Germany's vitals. What is most striking features of everything assistants, all at one and the same attended by members and the the Scandinavian countries was voted

time. He is never ruffled, and has friends, who are introduced to a

certainly aroused- success, and Britain's attitude to these de- associated with the movement, and

a strong objection to anything na of the explanations of its

"quiet times.". The house parties enormous interest. The Group num- velopments? According to Mr.extraordinary success in the last few the nature of hysteria at private or have so far been very successful, bers in its ranks to-day leaders of dozen important J. L. Garvin, one of the most years.

public meetings. balanced writers of the day, our Founded in 1921 by Dr. Frank There is nothing of the typical and a noteworthy feature is their public life in a

Usually countries. There is hardly on im- excellent organisation. duty is to keep out of the whole Buchman, a former Lutheran pastor evangelist about him, and his mind several big hotels are booked in portant town in Europe where there is essentially practical and realistic. towns where house parties are held, is not at least one group of people for a "quiet timo" of this business, and, as far as in the United States, the Group is

Among his chief Lieutenants are ex- an association of Christmas who bind

but in University towns it has be meeting daily in us lies, not to allow it to be themselves to live their lives ac

officers, Oxford and Cambridge gra-

come the practice to hire some of together. I have met groupers in most unexpected places. On my the colleges. come the cause of war in West- cording to the standards laid down duates, an ex-Fleet Street editor, a

pre on in the New Testaments East Fife, and a young novelist,

former Communist organiser from

At the last house party I attended lust visit to Berlin I called on a Grouper who is a member of Hitler's people are either in or "out" no rules or membership cards

there was an extraordinary assert-personal, bodyguard! All Classes

ment of classes and professions. Groupers are said to be "changed

Anglican bishops rubbed "shoulders Can the Oxford Group really lives, and the leaders believe that

with Trade Union leaders, Com-change lives? The answer is to be if sumelent key people in each

munist oralors, politicians, Journ- found in seeing its members, many

of whom were jaded and unhappy. country can be "changed," the whole course of history can be altered, and

people a few years ago, and are the present international discords

to-day brimful of energy, with that wiped out by mutual understanding.

self-confidence that comes from a full and enjoyable life.

ern

Is

#

"Changed Lives"

Group converts have told me how much better they felt after standing'

PLAYING THE GAME

Friendly Atmosphere

Europe. "Nothing earth," says Mr. Garvin, "will induce the British people to mobilise against Germany in that cause. Our plain and sane policy in this world about us is one of maximum of armaments and minimum of commitments,

..We should shun

The severest critics of the Group every en-

do not deny the truth of the "changed tanglement in Eastern Europe."

Ilves." When I was at Oxford The opinion is further expressed leaders of the "fast set" underwent PROFICIENCY in sport appears to corps, the keeping up of the c

be the open sesame to success in spirit in his business or office, In that if we refuse to mix the two amazing transformations after being

There are many prominent figures problems, there will be lasting brought into contact with Groupers, business, especially in banking, in order that his workers will consider

and Some of them had to stand a great surance,

large commercial their firm the best, and foster its both inside and outside the Church who have severely condemned pence in Western Europe, but deal of ridicule from former asabel-

houses.

Interests because they are of on the Oxford Group for its lack of not otherwise. There can be ates, but they stuck to their guns,

Time after time Junior who is brotherhood in "playing the game,"

-In practice is this so? I venture "dignity," and its use of the most good golfer of Aigby player is little doubt that British feeling and made fresh converts of their

selected for advancement before to suggest it is not. Those who are modern advertising devices, but on in general is distinctly in favour own.

those of his colleagues who, equally specially favoured soon come to look mecting these people one misses the of improving our relations with|Quiet Times

clever at their work, prefer a hobby upon their privileges as rights, and friendliness that emanates from the

life-changers." Germany, rather than to do any-

that does not bring them before the further, being favoured and ap

plauded for their prowess in apert, Psychologists have explained the thing which would create fresh As perfect honesty is prescribed crowd.

for Groupers, great importance is Not only does the "sporty" worker soon forget that they receive their success of the Group with wordy friction between the two nations. attached to "Quiet Times," which are beheilt in advancement. Ianumer weekly wages for doing a certain job dissertations on repressions and in- work is ofien feriority complexes, but neither they Our political ideologies may be held at all private gatherings of able halfdays and odd hours off of work. Their totally at variance one with an- members. A Quiet Time is the come his way, while those left in scamped, but a blind eye is turned nor any of the other critics offer a other, but that is no reason name given to a short period of the office or shop have to overtake to this falling because of their abili- practical cure for individual misery

ties on the field.

and unsatisfied longings, which is silence, during which those taking his work. why we should not be able to part in a meeting sit with pencil and Is it fair that the man who pre- On the other hand, the man who just what the Groupers đó. work together for the preserva paper before them, ready to jot for a hobby such as tramping, Bah-pursues his own private hobby soon The sins described by converts to.. tion of peace. To use the words down, any "guldance" for future i ocial prestige, in time of Job to the best of his ability and for Group" principles: ́at the private of Mr. Garvin, "another Anglo- actions which comes to them in, or bowls, should suffer financial- becomes disgruntled. In doing his

After the leader has said a short duty, and advancement in his work, the good of the firm he receives no meetings are much less sensational German war from any cause prayer, these thoughts are shared" because he does not enjoy the sports encouragement; plainly he is shown than outsiders often imagine. Often would be a dark catastrophe; an each individual reading out what that are popular with his superiors? that he is not popular because he petty acts of dishonesty are describ I know pald the income-tax authort- unnecessary Anglo-German war, has been written. There is an ex- He is no rabbit"; his particular goes his own way outside business ed, soon to be rectified. One man

and the

shyest individuals haps just us strenuous as, or more to suffer.

ly, in

but

made by Britain for the sake ơi | kordinary friendliness about these form of recreation or sport is per-hours, 'and so his work, too, is bound tes a large sum he had - illegally the Soviet Pacts and Eastern are scan made to feel at home. so than, that of the socially-import- By all means let us play the game withheld over a period of years Europe, would be a blunder and The Group leaders are strangely ant ones, and, in addition, he is in the proper sense of the expres- it was a rare case.

crime past example." These assorted. Dr. Buchman himself locks probably more of a sportsinan, talon. Do not let it interfere with For the vast majority of people words » represent sober British like a

a successful business man, with that ho, le wholly disinterested as business. The popularity of sport are not secret law-breakers or pintul his quiet,

neat clothes, incisive voice, regards the rewards of his hobby. Increases daily, but he is a wise livers. Their problems are chiefly for thinking that

reason and alert eyes, which are continually He seeks pleasure, a change from business man who is strong enough concerned with their answers o not soarching the faces of those around work and the game for its own to keep it in its place, and that is, great personal questions. And the And both in practice and effect, outside Group claims to have the right Elso reflects that

the him. When I Inst saw him, hài vona Breed Arsalan form, Royal garden party,

The boss, of course, supports his business hours.

V. D.. ARTEREDAsthen deinila of;: the; next

Interest on, the, score of esprit, de

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